Guatemala
| Government | |
| Name | Republic of Guatemala |
| Spanish | República de Guatemala |
| Government type | Presidential republic |
| Capital | Guatemala City (923,392 (2018)) |
| Currency | Quetzal (GTQ) |
| People | |
| Population (2020) | 17,915,567 (67th) |
| Density of population | 129 P/km2 (85th) |
| Nationality | Guatemalan |
| Official languages | |
| Spanish | |
| Ethnic groups (2018) | |
| Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish – in local Spanish called Ladino) | 56% |
| Maya | 41.7% |
| Xinca (indigenous, non-Maya) | 1.8% |
| African descent | 0.2% |
| Garifuna (mixed West and Central African, Island Carib, and Arawak) | 0.1% |
| Foreign | 0.2% |
| Religions | |
| Roman Catholic | |
| Protestant | |
| Indigenous Maya | |
| Life expectancy (2020) | |
| Male | 70.3 years |
| Female | 74.5 years |
| Total population | 72.4 years (153rd) |
| Homicides | |
| Total (2018) | 22.5 per 100,000 people (17th) |
| Geography | |
| Land area | 107,159 km2 |
| water area | 1,730 km2 |
| total area | 108,889 km2 (108th) |
| Mean elevation | 759 m |
| Lowest point | |
| Pacific Ocean | 0 m |
| Highest point | |
| Volcano Tajumulco (highest point in Central America) | 4,220 m |
| Land use (2011) | |
| Agricultural land | 41.2% |
| Arable land | 14.2% |
| Permanent crops | 8.8% |
| Permanent pasture | 18.2% |
| Forest | 33.6% |
| Other | 25.2% |
| Urbanization | |
| Urban population (2020) | 51.8% |
| Rate of urbanization | 2.68% annual rate of change (2015 – 2020) |
| Economy | |
| Labor force (2017) | 6.664 million (69th) |
| Labor force by occupation (2017) | |
| Agriculture | 31.4% |
| Industry | 12.8% |
| Services | 55.8% |
| Unemployment rate (2017) | 2.3% (23rd) |
| GDP (PPP) (estimate 2018) | |
| Total | $145.249 billion (75th) |
| Per capita | $8,413(118th) |
| GDP (nominal) (estimate 2018) | |
| Total | $79.109 billion (68th) |
| Per capita | $4,582 (103rd) |
| GDP by sector (estimate 2017) | |
| Agriculture | 13.3% |
| Industry | 23.4% |
| Services | 63.2% |
| Exports (2017) | $11.12 billion (88th) |
| Exports partners (2017) | |
| US | 33.8% |
| El Salvador | 11.1% |
| Honduras | 8.8% |
| Nicaragua | 5.1% |
| Mexico | 4.7% |
| Imports (2017) | $17.11 billion (83rd) |
| Imports partners (2017) | |
| US | 39.8% |
| China | 10.7% |
| Mexico | 10.7% |
| El Salvador | 5.3% |
Guatemala on the world map
Guatemala top 10 largest cities (2018)
- Guatemala City (923,392)
- Mixco (463,019)
- Villa Nueva (426,316)
- Cobán (212,047)
- Quetzaltenango (180,706)
- Xalapa (159,840)
- Escuintla (156,313)
- San Juan Sacatepéquez (155,965)
- Jutiapa (145,880)
- San Miguel Petapa (129,124)
Demography
Population pyramid
Age structure data
Estimate for 2020:
- 0-14 years: 33.68% (male 2,944,145/female 2,833,432)
- 15-24 years: 19.76% (male 1,705,730/female 1,683,546)
- 25-54 years: 36.45% (male 3,065,933/female 3,186,816)
- 55-64 years: 5.41% (male 431,417/female 496,743)
- 65 years and over: 4.7% (male 363,460/female 442,066)
Remark: the age structure of a population affects a nation’s key socioeconomic issues. Countries with young populations (high percentage under age 15) need to invest more in schools, while countries with older populations (high percentage ages 65 and over) need to invest more in the health sector. The age structure can also be used to help predict potential political issues. For example, the rapid growth of a young adult population unable to find employment can lead to unrest.
Population from 1950 to 2020
Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019). World Population Prospects 2019, Online Edition. Rev. 1.
Evolution of the life expectancy from 1960 to 2018
Source: World Development Indicators, The World Bank
Economy
Agriculture:
sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom, cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens
Industries:
sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism
Exports – commodities:
sugar, coffee, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom, manufacturing products, precious stones and metals, electricity
Imports – commodities:
fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, grain, fertilizers, electricity, mineral products, chemical products, plastic materials and products
Time zone and current time in Guatemala
Go to our interactive map to get the current time in Guatemala